It has certainly been a busy year here in the Society, as well as Conquer Club. We have seen many changes come and go. Most recently, we got the Classic revamp, so no more shapes vs Art debates.

Reaching all the way back to last spring we had the forum changes, with our quiet little usergroup going public and operating over a dozen different classrooms. We even have one dedicated to team play now too.

Consider joining the Society of Cooks Terminator Invitational Tournament and try your skills on our map settings against other CC members. Winner gets a tournament medal. See Tournament. Just post in that thread or pm mpjh to join the tournament.

1. What's your secret identity?If I told you, I'd have to hunt you down and kill you.It is Top Secret.2. How did you come to conquer club?I searched RISK online found the site, said," Why not" and joined3. High/low score Low: 210 High: 16414. What's your favorite non-SOC game? Freestyle, no spoils, world 2.1, etc.AOR1, Seq, no spoils, chained, auto, foggy5. What do you do for a living?I play hockey, baseball, and football. I also ref hockey.6. Any family?Mom and Dad, one bro, a lot of aunts, cousins, and uncles7. Any advice for the SOC staff?Just keep doing what you're doing. Maybe teach more maps though

It seemed a lot of the players decided to beat up on the new joiners, for example 3 player games when you lost you did not know if it was your lousy playing or because they ganged up on you and split the points. I decided something had to be done, so long before the cook school started I wrote an article for new players to give them strategy and different tips to make their game time more enjoyable. It was only in the last 2 years that they fixed up a forum for us to do this in a better learning atmosphere for new players.

dhallmeyer wrote:Do you have any good game stories to tell?

I rarely get angry and after first few games I never Ally. In game 1509 I was accused of allying in a 3 man game. We argued back and forth. That player that I argued with became a close CC friend and my doubles partner for a long time.

dhallmeyer wrote:What do you do in the real world?

I am a mobile Notary Public in Los Angeles County California.

dhallmeyer wrote:What family details would you like to share?

I am Wacicha - The RedmanI was born on an Indian reservation. It made me who I am. Wacicha was what my Grandmother called me growing up. It is Sioux Indian it means White Trash.

Did you ever hear the song a boy named sue I always thought it was spelled Sioux.What you think is normal is NOT what I think is or was brought up to believe was normal. What and who I am today is mostly because of that name. The indian boys hated me The white boys hated me. Grandma said get tough or die. She said if you are in a fight and are winning make it quick. If you are losing make sure he looks like you got some. Her exact words were "while he is eating his dinner you better get a snack."My mama felt this was a part of life also.We were a family of migrant farm workers and every now and then a mining town, I went to 10 or 12 schools a year.

Here is an example of the first day of school one of the more memorably ones.

One time at a mining town on the first day of school, being the new halfbreed in school, I was chased all the way home by 12 to 15 white kids. I was screaming mama mama mama they want to beat me up mama mama. Before I reached the door my mama came out and yelled "what is going on. I said they want to get me!!! she said and I quote " Not this way, do it one at a time."

I fought my ass off that day, won some lost some. but they all knew they had been in a fight. I fought to the end. When I lost one I got up ready for the next one.

If you over attack you loose troop numbers which are very important early on in the game. If you are to defensive then you tend to lack spoils latter in the game which are very important.Also you need balance on the map as can be managed with the drop you started with and your ability to move to other areas during the game. Playing for a bonus is a good example of this, often times this leaves you weak in other areas of the map even IF you mange to gain and hold it. So most times it should be avoided.